Quick-opening toggle razor



y 3, 1960 v. R. BAILEY ETAL 2,934,821

QUICK-OPENING TOGGLE RAZOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1957 M 1960 vv. R. BAILEY ETAL 2,934,821

QUICKOPENING TOGGLE RAZOR Filed June 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tats 12,934,821 QUICK-OPENING TOGGLE RAZOR Application June 26, 1957, SerialNo. 668,052 8 Claims. (Cl. 3060.5)

This invention relates to a safety razor of the so-called one-piececonstruction in which a11-of the components remain permanently attachedto each other at all times to permit replacement of the blade withoutseparation of the parts, and pertains more specifically to such a razorof the quick-opening type.

, One object of the invention is to provide a razor of the typedescribed having an improved construction.

Another object is to provide a razor of the type described havingimproved means for adjusting the shaving relation between the blade andan associated guard member.

Still another object is to provide, in a razor of the type describedhaving a toggle control for clamping and releasing the blade, animproved means for yieldingly and releasably locking the toggle in anintermediate position in which the blade is loosely held in the clampingmeans to permit rinsing of the razor without removal of the bladetherefrom.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and from thedescription which follows.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in sideelevation, partly broken away and in section,showing one embodiment of the present invention with the blade clampedin shaving position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the blade loosely held inposition for rinsing;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the lower portion of theembodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and in section,showing the embodiment of Fig. 1 in open position to permit removal andreplacement of the blade;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a view in cross-section taken along line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation, partly broken away and in section,showing another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the razor shown in Figs. 1to 6 inclusive generally comprises a handle portion 10 and a headportion 12 in which a razor blade 14- is clamped. Handle 10 is hollow,-comprising two telescopically arranged tubular members 16, 18. In

the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 these tubular members 16, 18 aremovable axially with respect to each other to a slight extent to andfrom an extended position and a retracted position. Adjacent the upperend of tubular member 16 is rigidly mounted a blade-supporting platform20 while the lower end of tubular member 18 is tapped for threadedengagement with a seat element 22.

.A knurled lock nut 24 is provided for locking seat element 22 in itsdesired position at the lower end of tubular member 18.

A pull rod 26 passes through the center of the hollow handle 10 and isaxially movable with respect to tubular atent 2,934,821 Patented May 3,1960 members 16, 18. Pull rod 26 carries fixed to its upper end a spider28 on cross arms 30 of which are pivotally mounted cap sections 32, 32by means of arms 33, 33. Projecting lugs 34, 34 integral with arms 33,33 are provided adjacent their pivotal mounting. I

Adjacent the lower end of pull rod 26 a toggle 36 is pivotally mountedat 38, being swingable to and from a first position in axial alignmentwith the pull rod, in which position its upper convex end 40 seatsagainst seat element 22, and a second position in which toggle 36 istransverse to the pull rod. A compression spring 42 encircles the lowerportion of pull rod 26, being seated between the upper end of seatelement 22 and a fiange44 secured to pull rod 26, thus urging pull rod26 to a raised position when toggle 36 is in transverse position.Rotation of toggle 36 about its pivot 38 to a position in axialalignment with pull rod 26 serves to draw the pull rod downwardly,drawing with it spider 28 and associated cap sections 32, 32 which clampblade 14 against blade-supporting platform 20.

An end extension 46 of tubular member 18 is provided which likewise istelescopically slidable over tubular member 16 and which is providedwith an internal annular shoulder 48. Mounted between shoulder 48 ofextension 46 and a flange 50 adjacent theupper end of tubular member 16is a compression spring 52 which serves to urge tubular member 16 withits blade-supporting platform 20 upwardly while forcing end extension 46downwardly. The lower end of extension 46 is threaded to engage with arotatable collar 54 carrying a tapped insert 56 mounted within it in apress fit. The lower margin of collar 54 abuts against an annularbearing member 58 which is press fitted within the upper end of tubularmember 18 and forms a part thereof, collar 54 being rotatable withrespect to tubular member 18 and its bearing member 58. Fixedly mountedadjacent the upper end of extension 46 is a blade-guard member 60. Guard60 is so arranged that movement of spider 28 and associated cap sections32, 32 axially upwardly with respect to tubular member 18 and guardmember 60 causes lugs 34, 34 which are integrally connected with capsections 32, 32 to-abut against an under surface of guard member 60,thus rotating cap sections 32 to open position when spider 28 is raised,as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, when spider 28 is moved downwardly byswinging of toggle 36, arms 33, 33 supporting cap sections 32, 32 strikeagainst an upper surface of guard member 60, rotating the cap sectionsto closed or clamping position.

In order to adjust the shaving relation between guard member 60 andblade 14 which is clamped on blade-carrying platform 20, collar 54 maybe rotated, thus advancing or retracting extension 46 and varying theoverall distance between guard member 60 and seat element 22. Inasmuchas the length of pull rod 26 and spider 28 is fixed, rotation of collar54- serves to vary the spacing between guard member 68 and the edge ofclamped razor blade 14 independently of the clamping pressure exertedupon the blade.

The clamping pressure exerted upon the blade is determined by thestrength of spring 52 which may be supple-.

mented if desired by a second compression spring 62 mounted between seatelement 22 and a fixture 64 press fitted on the lower end of tubularmember 16 and forming a part thereof. Spring 52 and optional spring 62together urge tubular member 16 and its associated bladecarryingplatform 20 upwardly with respect to tubular member 18 against theunderside of cap sections 32, 32. The upward movement of tubular member16 to its extended position in the rinse setting of Fig. 2 is limited bythe axial clearance between fixture 64 and the lower end 68 of bearingmember 58. Downward movement of tubular member 16 to retracted positionis limited only by the stiffness of springs 52 and 62, which keepplatform 20 and blade 14 pressed against cap sections 32 so that thelatter determine the lowermost position of tubular member 16.

In order to provide for ready adjustment of guard member 60 to anydesired predetermined spacing from blade 14, indicia 70 may be providedon the outer face of collar 54 and a plurality of axially extendingflutes 72 may be provided on the inner face of collar 54 into which aspring member 74 enters as collar 54 is rotated, thus yieldingly andreleasably maintaining collar 54 in a position determined by any one ofthe flutes. A stop 73 is provided on the inner face of collar 54 tolimit rotation of the collar to less than one revolution. Spring 74 maybe mounted in an axial slot in the wall of extension 46 of tubularmember 18. Into a diametrically opposite slot in extension 46 thereextends .a detent 76 bent inwardly from the wall of bearing member 58 toserve as a spline connection between tubular member 18 (to which bearing58 is secured) and its extension 46.

In practice the user of the razor may clamp a blade against platform 20by actuating toggle 36 and then may independently vary the spacingbetween guard member 60 and clamped blade 14 by rotating collar 54 toany selected position. Seat element 22 in this embodiment is normallythreaded into tubular member 18 during assembly of the razor at thefactory and locked in a preset position to provide the desired spacingbetween guard member 60 and platform 20 for any selected position ofcollar 54. In order to avoid any possible misadjustment of the positionof seat element 22, a hardenable liquid cement such as a polymerizableresin solution may be introduced between the threads of seat element 22,tubular member 18 and lock nut 24 and permitted to harden or set up insitu, thus permanently fixing seat element 22 in the desired position.

Inasmuch as it is frequently desirable during use of the razor to rinsethe head portion without removing the blade completely therefrom, thereis provided a hollow bore 80 extending axially of toggle 36 within whichis mounted a generally spherical detent 82 which is urged toward pivot33 by means of compression spring 84. The end of push rod 26 is providedwith a plurality of shoulders 86, 88 and intervening recesses withinwhich detent 82 seats. Accordingly, detent 82 serves to maintain toggle36 yieldingly and releasably in any one of three positions: a firstposition as shown in Fig. 1 in which the toggle 36 is in axial alignmentwith pull rod 26 and its upper end 46 is seated against seat element 22;a second position as shown in Fig. 4 in which toggle 36 extendstransversely of pull rod 26; and a third intermediate position as shownin Fig. 2 in which toggle 36 extends diagonally on either side of pullrod 26. In the latter intermediate position, pull rod 26 is permitted torise slightly with respect to tubular member 18, but is restrained, bythe abutment of the shoulder of toggle 36 against the margin of seatelement 22, from rising to a point Where lugs 34 are engaged by guard 60to rotate cap sections 32, 32 to completely open position. Since theupward movement of tubular member 16 and its associated blade-carryingplatform 20 is limited by fixture 64, the blade is thus released fromits tightly clamped position and is free to move slightly with respectto platform 20 and cap sections 32 While still being retained within thehead portion of the razor. This arrangernent facilitates thoroughrinsing of the head portion of the razor without removal of the blade.

It should be noted that toggle 36 may be actuated in either directionfor clamping and unclamping the blade and also for reaching theintermediate rinsing position.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. 7, seat element122 is slidably mounted in the lower end of tubular member 118, theextent of axial movement of seat element 122 being limited by the axialclearance between its shoulder 123 and the lower end of tubular member118 on the one hand and by the clearance between shoulder 124 and aninwardly swaged ring 125 in tubular member 118 on the other hand. Theaxially movable mounting of seat element 122 in tubular member 118together with spring 62 provide the clamping pressure exerted upon theblade in this embodiment of the invention, so that tubular member 16 mayin this case be fixed within tubular member 118 by means of fixture 164which carries a threaded portion threadedly engaged within a tappedportion 167 at the lower end of bearing member 158 which in turn,together with fixture 164, is press fitted to tubular member 118.Tobular member 16 is a press fit within fixture 164. In this embodiment,the upper part of which is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 6except that detent 76, being unnecessary, may be omitted, spring 52serves only -to keep extension 46 and collar 54 pressed against bearingmember 158 and does not affect the clamping pressure on blade 14.

In assembling this embodiment of the invention, the parts of the headportion and upper handle portion (exclusive of tubular member 118) areassembled together, fixture 164 being driven home'upon the lower end oftubular member 16. Collar 54 is then rotated to a selected setting, andbearing member 158 is rotated with respect to fixture 164 and tubularmember 16, the threaded engagement between portions 165 and 167 causingcollar 54 and end extension 46 to move axially, thus varying the axialspacing between guard member 60 and platform 20. When this spacing hasbeen adjusted to the desired value for the selected setting of collar54, tubular member 118, which is a press fit with both fixture 164 andbearing member 153, is forced over these elements to lock them togetherand thus maintain the pre-set relation between the guard member 60 andplatform 26.

It will be noted that the telescopically nestedtubular construction ofthe handle portion not only provides an axially elongated bearing whichserves to avoid rocking or tilting of guard member 60 with respect toplatform 20 and the consequent varying of the shaving relation betweenguard member 66 and blade 14, but in addition is highly versatile,permitting as it does pre-adjustment of the relationship between guardand blade during assembly in a variety of Ways, two of which areillustrated in detailabove and others of which will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but toinclude all of the obvious variations and modifications within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety razor having a hollow handle comprising a pair of tubularmembers telescopically connected with respect to each other, ablade-supporting platform connected adjacent the outer end of one saidmember, a seat element connected adjacent the opposite end of the secondsaid member, at least one of the connections being axially movable topermit movement of said platform and said seat element to and from anextended and a retracted position with respect to each other, a springurging said platform and seat element to extended position, an axiallymovable solid pull rod extending through said handle and carryingadjacent one end means for releasably clamping a blade to said platformand adjacent the other end a pivotally mounted toggle movable to andfrom a first position in axial alignment with said pull rod in whichposition an end of said toggle seats against said seat element tomaintain said pull rod and clamping means in position to clamp saidblade against said platform under the pressure of said spring, and asecond position in which said toggle is transverse to said pull rod andsaid clamping means is completely open to release said blade.

' respect to said second member, said first and second members areaxially fixed to each other, said element has toggle receiving means,and in which a spring is mounted between said element and said secondmember to urge said element to extendedposition and toward said toggleto resiliently resist rotation of said toggle when seated in said togglereceiving means.

3. A safety razor as defined in claim 1 in which means is provided foryieldingly and releasably locking said toggle in a position intermediatebetween said first and second positions to hold a blade loosely withinsaid clamping means to permit rinsing thereof.

4. A safety razor as defined in claim 3 in which said locking meansincludes a detent yieldingly mounted in said toggle for movement towardand away from the pivotal mounting of said toggle and an end portion ofsaid pull rod extending beyond said pivotal mounting, said end portionhaving detent receiving means for mating engagement with said detentwhen said toggle is in the desired intermediate position.

5. A' safety razor as defined in claim 1 in which a blade guard ismounted on an end extension of said second tubular member adjacent saidplatform and in which means is provided for adjusting said end extensionand guard axially with respect to said second tubular member.

6. A safety razor as defined in claim 5 in which said adjusting meanscomprises a collar threaded on one of said extension and said secondtubular member, and abutting against the other, and said spring extendsbe tween said first tubular member and said end extension to urge saidextension toward said second tubular member.

7. A safety razor having a hollow handle comprising a pair of tubularmembers telescopically mounted with respect to each other and slidableto and from extended position and retracted position, a blade-supportingplatform mounted adjacent the outer end of one said memher, a seatelement mounted adjacent the opposite end of the second said member, aspring mounted between said members urging them to extended position, anaxially movable solid pull rod extending through said handle andcarrying adjacent one end means for releasably clamping a blade to saidplatform and adjacent the other end a pivotally mounted toggle movableto and from a first position in axial alignment with said pull rod inwhich position an end of said toggle seats against said seat element tomaintain said pull rod and clamping means in position to clamp saidblade against said platform under the pressure of said spring, and asecond position in which said toggle is transverse to said pull rod andsaid clamping means is completely open to release said blade, said seatelement having toggle receiving means effecting momentary depression ofsaid pull rod against the opposition of said spring as said toggle isrotated in either direction from said first position.

8. A safety razor as defined in claim 7 in which said seat element isthreadedly mounted on said second member and in which means is providedfor locking said seat element in fixed position on said second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,599,793 Achieren Sept. 14, 1926 1,755,726 Conill Apr. 22, 19301,952,370 Garretson Mar. 27, 1934 2,004,086 Testi June 4, 1935 2,043,124Smith et al. June 2, 1936 2,369,685 Nelson Feb. 20, 1945 2,561,610Bruneau July 24, 1951 2,644,229 Muros July 7, 1953 2,754,583 LiberatoreJuly 17, 1956 2,769,232 Leonard Nov. 6, 1956 2,780,866 Borden Feb. 12,1957 2,848,806 Schnitzler et al. Aug. 26, 1958 2,848,807 Schnitzler etal. Aug. 26, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 424,013 Italy Aug. 1, 1947

